Figure 4.

Alternative mechanisms underlying the sudden death of patients with colloid cyst: hypothalamic structures which are involved in cardiovascular control are located close to the walls of the third ventricle which is most frequent anatomical site of colloid cyst. This may suggest that reflex cardiac effects due to the compression of the hypothalamic cardiovascular regulatory centers by the cyst could explain the sudden death in patients harboring a colloid cysts when signs of hydrocephalus or brain herniation are lacking.